Daddy's home...

I am not sure why a child’s reaction to their father’s arrival home each evening is so different today than it was when I was young. Maybe it was due to mother’s countdown reminders, or the fact that we were not as “busy” with other things.

In those days, most mothers stayed at home with their children. A mother who worked outside of the home was the exception rather than the rule. Taking care of the children and home was more than a full time job, and the father’s return home was welcomed support when it came to the care of the children.

I have to say daddy’s home coming each evening was quite an event at our house. The four of us would stand watch to see him driving up the street to our house. "Daddy's home!" we would call out loudly. Then the race was on to see who could make it out to his truck first. The prize for which was “dibs” on daddy’s lunch box leftovers. Whether it was crackers, cookies, or Vienna sausages, it was considered quite a prize. There were always lots of hugs and kisses, because it seemed like a lifetime since daddy had left for work that very morning. We would hang on daddy’s legs as though we were athletic weights as he made his way into the house. I am sure it was the last thing he wanted to do after working all day, but he humored us nonetheless. Sometimes, one of us would get the special delight of daddy picking us up and throwing us over his shoulder in what we called the “fireman’s” carry. Since daddy stood over six foot tall, nothing compared to the thrill of being lifted from the ground to his shoulder. We would all be squealing and laughing as we entered the kitchen where mother was preparing “supper”. True to the ritual, Mother would tell us to leave daddy alone and go play. That was our cue to leave the room, giving the parents an opportunity to discuss the events of their day.

I will never forget the sounds, scents, and feelings that accompanied daddy’s arrival home from work each day. It saddens me to think children today may not have the opportunity to share the same experience.

Some memorable moments may just happen, but since our society has gotten so busy with work, school, sports, hobbies, etc, it is important we create opportunities for unforgettable moments.

So if you take anything from reading this story, let it be to realize how precious our time is with each other. And at the end of the day, as our children lay their heads down to sleep, let's pray we have enabled them to have something worth remembering, a memory to pass along to their children.